AMSTERDAM: Christian Eriksen scored two minutes after coming off the bench on his Denmark return in their 4-2 friendly defeat by the Netherlands.

Eriksen was playing for his country for the first time since his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 last June.

The midfielder, who has since joined Premier League club Brentford, produced a terrific finish into the top corner.

And he could have had a second when he turned outside the area, but curled a superb strike against the post.

Tottenham’s Steven Bergwijn scored twice, with Nathan Ake and Memphis Depay also on the scoresheet, while Jannik Vestergaard netted Denmark’s first goal.

But 30-year-old Eriksen emerged for his 110th cap as a second-half substitute to huge cheers from the crowd at Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, home of his former club Ajax.

Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal was among those to clap Eriksen, who applauded the reception in return.

Just two minutes later he sent his team-mates and fans into raptures, rattling home a confident finish from Andreas Skov Olsen’s cutback.

The Netherlands host Germany in a tasty friendly on Tuesday (19:45 BST), while Denmark are at home against Serbia on the same day (17:00).

Chelsea duo Kai Havertz and Timo Werner scored as Germany beat Israel to make it eight wins in a row since manager Hansi Flick took charge.

Havertz opened the scoring with a header from a corner, his 14th goal for club and country this season, before Werner’s near-post finish.

Substitute Thomas Muller missed a chance to extend the lead when his late penalty hit the post.

Israel’s Yonatan Cohen’s then saw his 94th-minute penalty saved.

It followed a challenge by Nico Schlotterbeck but keeper Kevin Trapp, who came on at the start of the second half, made a fine stop.

Germany have won all their games since last summer’s European Championship.

At 0-0 Havertz was twice denied by keeper Ofir Marciano before putting his side on course for another victory.

Germany will look to make it nine wins in a row on Tuesday when they face the Netherlands in a heavyweight friendly in Amsterdam (19:45 BST).

Alan Browne came off the bench to score a late equaliser and earn the Republic of Ireland a creditable friendly draw with world number one side Belgium.

The visitors took the lead after 12 minutes through Michy Batshuayi.

Chiedozie Ogbene levelled with a deflected bicycle kick before Belgium regained the lead when Hans Vanaken’s header went in off Seamus Coleman.

But Browne thumped a towering header past Simon Mignolet to earn the Irish a draw four minutes from time.

Back in action for the first time since the end of the World Cup qualifying campaign in November, the Republic will feel they deservedly took something from the game as they stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches.

With manager Roberto Martinez having only selected players with fewer than 50 caps, Belgium were missing Manchester City playmaker Kevin de Bruyne and Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku among others.

However, the visitors showed how dangerous they can be without their star players when Batshuayi opened the scoring with a ruthless finish.

Drifting out left to collect Vanaken’s pass, the striker drove between Coleman and Matt Doherty and beat Caoimhin Kelleher with a curling right-foot effort.

Given Belgium’s early dominance the home fans had little to shout about, but boos rang around the stadium after 25 minutes when the visitors’ bench featuring Thierry Henry was shown on the big screen, the France legend’s handball having famously denied the Irish a place at the 2010 World Cup.

However, Belgium failed to turn first-half dominance into clear-cut chances and were pegged back when Ogbene levelled in spectacular fashion after 35 minutes.

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